College News

Catawba Ranked #4 in Nation for Best College Theatre

Catawba College's Theatre Arts Department continues to be nationally ranked. It is rated fourth in the nation for best college theatre this year, according to the 2008 edition of The Princeton Review's "Best 366 Colleges" guide which hit bookstands Tuesday, August 21. The 2007 edition of the publication ranked Catawba's Theatre Arts Department seventh in the country for best college theatre.

Catawba College students, whose comments were cited in the publication, said the theatre arts department "offers excellent training in a variety of areas." "You can get fairly specialized degrees, including Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Performance, Musical Theatre, Directing, or Technical Theatre," the students noted. They also explained that this department encourages students to explore areas outside of their concentration so they are well-rounded and have a broad appreciation for what is involved in putting on a theatre production.

"The administration and professors at Catawba are awesome," Catawba undergraduates reported. "They are there for you for any problem you have, whether it's school-related or personal." Students also cited small classes, friendly students, and the very popular Catawba Indians (athletic teams).

"In our opinion, each school in this book is a 'best' when it comes to academics," says Robert Franek, the book's author at The Princeton Review. "But as anyone visiting colleges can attest, their campus cultures and offerings differ greatly. We compile rankings in multiple categories to give college applicants and their parents — particularly those who can't visit these schools — a wide range of information to decide which of these academically outstanding colleges will be best for them. It's all about the fit."

Although institutional officials submit annual data concerning enrollment, tuition, financial assistance, and SAT averages, it is survey information provided by the students who attend a particular institution which provides an insider's view of a college or university.

The Princeton Review survey asks students 80 questions about their school's academics/administration, campus life, student body, and themselves. Tallies for this edition's rankings are based on surveys of 120,000 students (about 325 per campus) at 366 schools in the book (not at all schools in the nation) during the 2006-2007 and/or previous two school years. Ninety percent were completed online, while 10 percent were paper surveys conducted on campus. The schools in the book are not ranked academically nor are they ranked 1 to 366 in any category.

"Best 366 Colleges" is one of 200 Princeton Review books published by Random House. Eight schools were added to the book this year. In addition to its two-page profiles on the schools and ranking lists, the book has a new section with lists of "Great Colleges for 15 of the Most Popular College Majors." The book was first published in 1992. No school has ever paid a fee to be in it.

The Princeton Review is a New York City-based company known for its test-prep courses, education services, and books. It is not affiliated with Princeton University and not a magazine.